Toilets at all bus-stops, Pongsapat says

Pheu Thai Party candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen promised yesterday to build public toilets at all 4,900-plus bus stops in the capital if he is elected as the next Bangkok governor.

He also promised to set up 38 24-hour outlets at district offices to serve Bangkokians non-stop.

Pongsapat said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration under his leadership would not suffer from floods.

He would also implement a Bt10 flat rate for air-conditioned buses and would use a flat rate of Bt20 for BTS Skytrain services while all non-air-conditioned buses would provide services free of charge.

He said he would build small incinerators for all communities to reduce the build-up of garbage.

The BMA would also boost the number of security cameras and ensure Bangkok residents’ houses were free from theft all-year round.

Monorail, tunnel and bridge among Sukhumbhand’s plans

Democrat Party candidate Sukhumbhand Paribatra unveiled his plan yesterday to build a monorail from Watcharapol to Rama IX bridge, if he is re-elected as Bangkok governor.

He said the monorail would cover Lat Phrao and Din Daeng and serve Bangkok residents living in a 200 square-kilometre area.

If the central government did not provide the budget, the city administration would use its own money. The first stage would be 8km long from Watcharapol to Lat Phrao, he said.

Sukhumbhand unveiled the plan while campaigning at Victory Monument, where he sat on the sidewalk and ate khao larm (bamboo-stuffed sticky rice) from a roadside vendor.

He said traffic would worsen when cars bought under the first-car scheme hit the road this year.

He would tackle traffic problems with a long-term plan by building a tunnel under the Srinakharin Intersection and also build a bridge over the Chao Phraya at Kiakkai.

Promises breach electoral law, Abhisit says

Democrat leader Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday called on the Election Commission to monitor the campaign of Pheu Thai candidate Pongsapat Pongcharoen.

Abhisit alleged Pongsapat may have violated the election law by promising to do things beyond the power of the Bangkok governor.

Abhisit said reducing rental fees at Chatuchak Weekend Market and providing free bus and boat services were duties of the transport minister, not the BMA governor.

“I want the EC to ensure that the law will not be violated,” Abhisit said.

BMA warning over signs

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday threatened to remove all election campaign signs that violate the BMA directive on posters.

BMA City Clerk Ninnat Chalitanon said election candidates must also remove all the signs within three days after the election on March 3.

Ninnat said the directive clearly stated which areas are prohibited for campaign signs.

Mostly, signs are not allowed in an area that would block views of motorists, as they could be dangerous for drivers.

Posters would not be allowed on road islands, or on any part of pedestrian bridges and vehicle flyovers, traffic signs and lights, bus stops, phone booths, government offices and their walls.

The signs were not allowed near Chitralada Palace, on the Royal Plaza, and on Rajdamnoen Road either, Ninnat said.